LightRay!’s Jimoh and Nwonu Win Top NIJ Awards as Media Expert Urges Fed Govt to Invest in STEM Education

Jimoh Elizabeth Oluwaseyi

A media veteran and former Managing Director of The Guardian, Mr. Martins Oloja, has urged the Federal Government to invest strategically in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enhance Nigeria’s global digital reputation.

Mr. Oloja made the call during a thought-provoking question-and-answer session following the 7th Convocation Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), themed “AI in Public Governance,” held recently in Lagos. The lecture was delivered by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Bashir Adeniyi.

Drawing from over three decades of experience in public affairs and policy, Mr. Oloja lamented Nigeria’s missed opportunity to host Google’s African AI centre—an outcome he attributed to inadequate investment in technology infrastructure across Nigerian universities. He urged the Comptroller-General to use his influence to galvanize support for STEM education.

“This is not about politics,” Oloja said. “This is about our governance system. As Mandela once predicted, if Nigeria cannot lead the Black race, then we cannot lead at all.”

Oloja also praised the NIJ’s management for selecting a timely and critical topic for the convocation lecture, emphasizing the urgency for media professionals and future journalists to understand the impact of AI on governance and society.

In his address, Mr. Adeniyi underscored how AI is transforming the architecture of public governance, offering opportunities to enhance service delivery, resource management, and civic engagement. However, he cautioned that this transformation also raises important concerns about equity, transparency, and privacy.

“The quality of Nigeria’s democracy in this AI era will significantly depend on how well journalists perform their critical function,” Adeniyi stated. Quoting Mattia Peretti, he added, “The world needs journalists to report on AI and hold these systems and the people behind them accountable.”

While encouraging media professionals to embrace AI, the Customs Chief also warned against over-reliance, noting that excessive dependence may diminish core journalistic skills like critical thinking and perspective.

“AI has enabled us to reach wider audiences, but it also risks spreading misinformation through generated content,” he said. “We must approach AI governance with both optimism and vigilance.”

The Vice-Chairman of the NIJ Governing Council and chairman of the event, Mr. Ray Ekpu, described Mr. Adeniyi as a passionate professional, applauding his transition from Public Relations Officer to Comptroller-General. “He is a round peg in a round hole,” Ekpu remarked.

NIJ Provost, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, appreciated Mr. Adeniyi for his in-depth analysis of AI’s implications, urging the audience to master AI tools rather than fear them. “The message is clear: AI is here to stay. Master it and don’t be intimidated by it,” he affirmed.

The ceremony, attended by dignitaries, naval officers, academics, journalists, lecturers, and students, concluded with closing remarks from the Deputy Provost of the Institute, Dr. Boye Ola.

Meanwhile, the NIJ, a media training school of distinction, concluded its convocation ceremony on May 6th. The Public Relations Officer of the institute revealed in a press statement that about 707 graduates would be honored with Distinctions, Upper Credit, Lower Credit, and Pass certificates, and 60 graduands earned the Distinction grade.

The graduates are in categories of National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), and Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD), respectively. Interestingly, two correspondents for LightRay! Media performed excellently, as Jimoh Elizabeth Oluwaseyi graduated with a Distinction and earned the best graduating PGD Print Student award, while Nwonu Precious earned the best graduating PGD Broadcast Student award, a testament to diligence, doggedness, and determination.